Warmer than Greece as chill is banished by spring sun
TEMPERATURES will rise next week with Britain set to become hotter in places than parts of Greece.
An early taste of summer will see thermometers reach 72F (22C) as householders turn off the heating at last.
That would be hotter than the 70F expected in Greek holiday island destination Kefalonia.
But forecasters warn it will not be “wall-to-wall” sun for everyone with cooler conditions returning to some eastern coastal areas.
The improvement in the weather follows a miserable winter and spring which has brought deep snow, flooding and heavy rain.
Forecasters say unsettled conditions will continue today but should improve towards the weekend and into next week.
Temperatures could reach up to 66F by this Friday.
Pleasant
The weather could then be warmer on Saturday in the South-east with 68F possible, before conditions get even more pleasant on Sunday with 72F.
This weekend could see the highest temperature of the year so far, beating the previous 2018 record in Britain of 66.9F, recorded in Gravesend, Kent, last Saturday.
Met Office forecaster Nicky Maxey said Sunday should bring a dry spell with sunshine and a break of cloud in the South-east.
She added: “Those warmer temperatures certainly look as though they’re continuing into next week.
“So as we go through much of next week the indications are generally for warm weather, perhaps very warm in places.
“There’s some cooler conditions returning to some eastern coastal areas but mainly we’re looking at fairly pleasant temperatures. The signal is for some nice warm temperatures as we go through the weekend and into next week.”
There may be a slight north and south split but even areas such as Newcastle – which has suffered due to a chilly North Sea – could creep up to 60F by Sunday.
More rain is expected however before the settled weather develops.
There were Met Office warnings in place for up to 1.2in (30mm) in six hours in North-east and South-west England yesterday, together with possible flooding and lightning.
There are currently 42 flood alerts nationwide, meaning flooding is possible, and seven flood warnings, indicating flooding is expected.